Vocabulary: town, directions and the countryside

Buildings in town, how to give directions, and the countryside and its animals.

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Buildings and places

Où est la gare? = Where is the station? Use au / à la / à l' / aux to say 'to the': je vais à la bibliothèque.
FrenchEnglish
le bâtimentbuilding
l'immeuble (m)block of flats
la mairietown hall
le commissariatpolice station
la bibliothèquelibrary
le muséemuseum
le stadestadium
la garerailway station
la gare routièrebus station
le marchémarket
le centre commercialshopping centre
le parkingcar park
la boulangeriebakery
la pharmaciechemist's
le châteaucastle

Streets and directions

Prenez la deuxième rue à gauche. = Take the second street on the left.
FrenchEnglish
la ruestreet
la routeroad
le pontbridge
le carrefourcrossroads
les feux (m)traffic lights
le rond-pointroundabout
le quartierdistrict, neighbourhood
la banlieuesuburbs
le centre-villetown centre
la zone piétonnepedestrian area
le coincorner
tout droitstraight on
à gaucheon the left
à droiteon the right
loin defar from
traverserto cross

The countryside

À la campagne, c'est tranquille, mais il n'y a pas beaucoup de transports.
FrenchEnglish
la campagnecountryside
la fermefarm
la collinehill
la montagnemountain
la rivièreriver
le laclake
la forêtforest
l'arbre (m)tree
la fleurflower
le paysagelandscape
la vachecow
le chevalhorse
le moutonsheep
le cochonpig
la poulehen
tranquillequiet, peaceful
Worked example

Translate: Cross the bridge and the library is on the right, near the town hall.

  1. Cross (vous command) = traversez
  2. is on the right = est à droite
  3. near the town hall = près de la mairie

Answer: Traversez le pont et la bibliothèque est à droite, près de la mairie.

Key idea

La mairie, le commissariat, la bibliothèque, la gare (routière), le centre commercial. La rue, le pont, le carrefour, les feux, le rond-point, tout droit, à gauche, à droite, traverser. La campagne, la ferme, la colline, la rivière, le paysage, tranquille.

Key words
la bibliothèque
library
la gare
station
le centre commercial
shopping centre
tout droit
straight on
la campagne
countryside
la rivière
river

All GCSE and International GCSE French key terms and definitions →

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Extra practice

2 more questions

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  1. What does la boulangerie mean?

    1. butcher's
    2. market
    3. police station
    4. bakery
    Show the answer

    Answer: bakery

    La boulangerie = bakery.

  2. Which is the French for "market"?

    1. le marché
    2. le stade
    3. la boulangerie
    4. le bâtiment
    Show the answer

    Answer: le marché

    Market = le marché.

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Practise this lesson free (7 questions)All GCSE and International GCSE French lessons

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Sources and references

Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.

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